For applicants

Study to become a practical nurse in Finland. Free of charge.

HSS runs a complete pathway from your first Finnish lesson to a certified role in a Finnish care facility. The programme is tuition-free for accepted students. Here is how it works.

The eight steps of the study process

Apply during an open intake. Submit your CV and a short motivation letter. We assess your background, motivation and suitability. Only some applicants are invited to the entrance exam.
Entrance exam. We test cognitive ability and, in particular, language learning aptitude. Finnish is a demanding language for healthcare, so we admit only candidates who realistically can complete the studies.
Enroll in the programme. Once admitted, you enroll in a curriculum aligned with Finnish qualification requirements. Studies begin in your home country, online, on our own learning platform.
Intensive Finnish and cultural orientation. Structured Finnish language study from A0 to A2, built around the vocabulary of healthcare. Weekly modules, weekly exams. Cultural orientation runs alongside.
Language proficiency assessment. Your Finnish level is measured against a recognised framework. You cannot progress to the next phase until the required level is documented.
Residence permit and visa preparation. Once studies and requirements are met, we help you prepare the residence permit application to Migri (the Finnish Immigration Service). Applications are filed in your own name. We cannot guarantee a permit, but we support the process.
Move to Finland and continue vocational studies. You arrive in Finland and continue the vocational curriculum in Finnish. 11 weeks of focused vocational study, 735 tracked exercises, hygiene passport preparation included.
Paid clinical practice and graduation. The final weeks are spent in a partner care facility. Supervised shifts, real patients, wages according to the Finnish care collective agreement. On graduation, the qualification is validated by a Finnish vocational college and recognised by Valvira.

What we look for in applicants

Motivation and commitment

The programme is long and demanding. We look for people who plan to build a long career in Finnish healthcare, not those looking for a short-term jump.

Language learning aptitude

Finnish is not similar to English or Filipino languages. Realistic capacity to learn a new language is a prerequisite. Prior language studies are a plus but not required.

Cultural adaptability

Finland is a small, direct, quiet country with dark winters. Openness to a different everyday culture matters as much as professional skill.

Cost, duration and outcome

Cost to student

0 EUR. Tuition, teaching, learning materials and the coordinator team are always free for accepted students. Personal expenses (flights, initial housing deposit, personal spending) are your own responsibility.

Duration

12 – 24 months from admission to graduation, depending on your starting Finnish level and which pathway you take. Care Assistant is shorter (~10 months); Practical Nurse takes longer.

Study format

Online while you are in your home country. In-person in Finland once you have moved. Full-time equivalent load; not compatible with a full-time day job for most students.

Qualification

Practical Nurse (lähihoitaja) is a nationally recognised qualification in Finland. Care Assistant is a role rather than a registered profession. Both are recognised across public and private care in Finland.

After graduation

Most students transition into paid employment in a Finnish care facility after graduation. Employment is not guaranteed — it is the outcome of a successful clinical placement and a hiring decision by a Finnish employer.

Participation in the programme does not guarantee employment in Finland. The programme is focused on completing the lähihoitaja qualification in accordance with Finnish educational standards, and all employment decisions are made by Finnish employers on their own criteria.